Personal Goals and Values Inventory - Essay Example

Student’s Name: Institution of Learning: Instructor’s Name: Course Name: Personal Goals and Values Inventory As an individual, I believe my personal goals and values have been shaped by circumstances occurring in my life (since childhood), in the society I grew in and my interactions with different people in my life. Growing up, my values and personal goals were shaped by what I considered important or what my parents (the most influential opinion shapers) considered as important. In essence, the overriding personal goal was to please my parents through best behavior and academic excellence. I would derive great satisfaction from excellence in academics as well as other tasks allocated to me. This need to please others transferred into my social network, where I would constantly find myself engaging in activities that would advance my acceptance and place in the group. However, my greatest turning point with regard to personal goal setting occurred when I joined university, removed from my home neighborhood and parental care. Entering a new, unfamiliar society, complete with its own unique values and morals, I was forced to re-evaluate myself and re-establish priorities. Accordingly, I was forced to craft my personal goals on the basis of what I valued most, which included, academic achievement, future professional prowess and developing lasting friendships. As such, at this stage I lived life for myself with minimal consideration for consequences. Another event that has had a great impact on my goals and values is motherhood. Becoming a mother changed everything, my outlook towards life, as well as what I value most. Specifically, motherhood made me realize that I was responsible for other people not just myself and that I had to do everything to make sure that my child has the best in life. While at the time I was jobless, being a mother motivated me to do everything such as take odd jobs and work extra shifts to ensure that my child is adequately provided for. Emotionally and mentally, I was motivated to reinvent myself in order to be able to provide the emotional support my child would need in future. Moreover, I learnt that I could no longer engage in a carefree lifestyle and embrace responsibility. This meant developing new relationships that provided guidance and support for my new status. Indeed, it is this status as a parent that motivates and drives my personal goals and values at work, and in daily life. From the Life Goal Inventory (Osland, Kolb and Rubin), the first area of goal setting is career where I believe my greatest goal in my professional life is personal accomplishment and development. Professionally I should be able to achieve significant work objectives and participate in undertakings I consider are personally significant, whether or not they result in my recognition by others. I desire to learn and engage in challenging work that will enable me to grow, and allow me to utilize my best talent while fostering professional maturity. Independence is another key goal in my career where I strive to acquire freedom of thought and action. I should be able to think and act in terms of my own time priorities and schedules. Lastly, enjoyment is a priority career goal whereby I strive to enjoy my work and have fun while discharging my professional duties. With regard to relationships with people goal area, my priority goal is friendship, where I strive to work in cooperation with teams and people with whom I share mutual respect. Loyalty is another key goal where I am committed to the goals of a group/team of people that share my beliefs, values and ethical principles. Affiliation is another goal where I desire to be part of a work team, company, organization, or social group that accepts me as a team member. Community and teamwork is another goal in which I desire to be participate deeply in a team or group that has a greater purpose beyond one's self. I strive to perform and function in effective and caring teamwork, in all spheres of life, including professionally and socially. The next goal area is status and respect that resonates the goals I have set for my relationships with people. A key priority in this area is expertise where I intend to become a known and respected authority in what I do and professional pursuits. Secondly, I believe in prestige where others can see me as successful and I am able to obtain recognition and status in my chosen field. Lastly, I should demonstrate leadership, where I have the ability to motivate, mentor, inspire and energize others. I should be able to influence others, change attitudes or modify opinions that impact actions. With regard to leisure, I believe that in everything I do, I should always have time for personal interests and pursuits. Second, my leisure pursuits should at all times contribute to my health and fitness while providing solitude for self-reflection. Lastly, a priority goal for leisure is adventure where I can engage in unique challenging opportunities that allow me to stretch myself with new or difficult situations. I should be able to experience a high degree of excitement throughout the course of my life. In the area of learning and education, my key priority is personal development with regard to knowledge and expertise where I spend time in pursuit of knowledge, understanding and building my expertise. Secondly, I desire for mental stimulation where I can engage in academic activity that requires I use my mind and continue to develop my intellect and expertise. With regard to the spiritual growth and religion goal area, my key priority is to develop wisdom whereby I am able to grow in understanding of myself, my personal calling and the real purpose of life. I need to grow in knowledge and practice my religious beliefs. Further, I desire to discern and do the will of God as well as find lasting meaning in what I do. Integrity is another vital goal in that I am able to live and work in compliance with my personal moral standards. I desire to be honest and have the ability to acknowledge or stand up for my personal beliefs. Service is also another objective, where I believe I should contribute to the wellbeing and satisfaction of others. I am able to give help to those who need it and improve the community around me and society as a whole. The last goal area is material rewards and possessions whereby my greatest priority is health and fitness. I believe in both physical and mental fitness through an active lifestyle that allows time maintain good exercise and diet discipline. Another key priority is financial independence, freedom and security where I have the means that enable me to experience and enjoy the things I consider essential as well as the luxuries of life. Financial independence will enable me achieve stability and guarantee that my family’s basic needs are met. Lastly, location is a priority goal in that get to own a home/properties and live in a geographical area that suits my lifestyle. In retrospection, most of the values enumerated in here are in congruence with my personal values. My lifetime value is achievement and accomplishment, where I believe I should see everything I begin through to the end. Accordingly, I believe currently I am achieving these goals since I am able to provide for the basic needs for my family through my current job. Further, I have been able to develop meaningful relationships with my colleagues, family, friends and peers. Additionally, I am developing myself professionally and academically to become an expert in my career. However, one area where I am still struggling is financial independence and freedom where, while I am capable of providing basic needs; I have little left for luxury spending. Another key area I am yet to make progress is gaining wisdom and spiritual maturity. Parenthood is at times quite overwhelming and I find myself doubting my capacity as a mother especially when I have to work late or spend time away from my child. Further, a great sense of conflict emerges with regard to putting the needs of the family first at the expense of mine. For example, I find my work often takes up all my leisure time and even when I am on leave from work I am still tending to the needs of the family. Conclusively, however, I can say my values are supported by the goals I have set and I believe I am a better mother, friend, employee and member of community. Work Cited Osland, Joyce S, David Kolb and Irwin Rubin. Organizational Behavior: An Experiential Approach, 7th ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice-Hall, 2001. Print. Read More